Tag: Donald Trump

With the opening ceremony of the Rio Olympic games coming this Friday, let’s take a look at all the important topics to watch this summer!

1. Opening Ceremony. The opening ceremony is a spectacle watched around the world and can set the tone for the rest of the games. Will there be a blunder like the little girl lip-syncing the national anthem in the 2008 Olympic games in Beijing, or a heart-touching moment like the late, great Muhammad Ali lighting the Olympic Torch?

2016 Women’s Gymnastics Olympic Team

2. US Women’s Gymnastics Team. The US women’s gymnastics team is the favorite to get the overall gold this year. However, what might be more interesting to watch is whether another American can grab the All-Around Gold for the fourth straight Olympics. Three-time world champion, Simone Biles, is the favorite to win the gold. But, she is competing against reigning Olympic champion Gabrielle Douglas, 2012 Olympics fourth runner-up Aly Raisman, and hot newcomer Laurie Hernandez.

3. Conditions in Rio. Zika, water pollution, gang violence and security issues are plaguing Rio. For nearly a year, Brazil has been in a state of emergency as they battle the Zika virus known to cause birth defects in babies. Several athletes have declined to travel to Rio this year and Zika is expected to be behind those decisions. Water pollution also threatens the sailing events this year and athletes have been told to spend as little time as possible in the water due to untreated human waste in the water. The World Health Organization has suggested athletes to “cover cuts with waterproof plasters prior to exposure.” In addition to health issues, there are threats of gang violence and the Olympic security firm was fired less than a week before the games. There have also been issues with the athlete’s Olympic village where “uninhabitable” conditions have kept athletes in nearby hotels instead, and the Australian team was robbed during a fire evacuation after returning to the village.

4. Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt. Do these two all-time great athletes still have what it takes to bring home the gold for their countries? With some out-of-the-pool issues and a suspension from Team USA, Phelps is said to be more focused than ever and ready to prove himself again. Meanwhile, Usain Bolt, who is turning 30 on the day of the closing ceremonies, has seen his times get slower in the past years. He is looking to win the 100m, 200m, and 4x400m relay for the third consecutive time. No other person has ever done this twice.

5. Team Russia and Doping.The Russian Olympic team has taken a huge due to doping. The International Olympic Committee originally banned nearly 400 Russian athletes after the entire track and field, rowing, and weightlifting teams were all banned for doping. The IOC announced it would not ban the entire team, but has still banned more than 110 Russian Olympians for this year’s Olympics, by far the largest of any Olympic games. Will the remaining athletes be able to make a splash at the games?

6. US Basketball Teams. While the Men’s team has a couple decent challengers in their pool, the US Women’s team has been absolutely dominate in the Olympics – winning 7 gold medals with an overall record of 58-3 in Olympic play. They also enter the Rio games on a 41 game winning streak. Despite several top athletes abstaining from this year’s games for the Men’s Team, they still figure to be the favorites led by Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant and DeMarcus Cousins.

7. New Sports. Rugby Sevens will make its first appearance in the 2016 games. Rugby Sevens is made up of seven active players for each team, compared to the 15-player teams in traditional rugby. Golf is also making a return after a 112-year hiatus. Baseball and softball, karate, squash, and roller sports all vied for the open two spots.

8. Can Brazil Take Gold in Men’s Soccer? Brazil has five World Cup championships, but has never won gold in the Olympics. Can the home team finally overcome their Olympic challenges and bring their country gold?

9. Allyson Felix’s Fourth Olympic Games. At the age of 30, Allyson Felix is looking to become the third woman in Olympic history to win the 200m and 400m races in the same Olympics. She boasts six Olympic medals and four individual world championships.

As anticipated, the Republican National Convention was set to be an interesting event to say the least. But even on day one the RNC has proved to be a wild one with boycotts, chaos, alienation of many voters, and way too many reality television stars.

Lack of Support from many of the Republican current and past leaders who did not attend the event, including former Presidents George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, and former presidential candidates Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, Paul Rand of Kentucky, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, and Mitt Romney. 18 current senators in all are skipping the event, for some of the hilarious reasons why these senators are skipping the convention check out Fox News.

Mass chaos broke out on the floor when delegates who were supposed to be voting against Donald Trump’s nomination backed out at the last minute.

Reality TV Stars were the next best thing for speakers since there were so many who refused to speak on behalf of Trump. This result was 1994’s MTV reality television series The Real World: San Francisco couple Rachel Campos-Duffy and Sean Duffy (House of Representatives from Wisconsin), along with Willie Robertson from Duck Dynasty spoke on behalf of Trump.

A ‘shameful, hellish’ benediction is what many on social media are calling pastor Mark Burns’ speech as he stated, “And Republicans, we got to be united, because our enemy is not other Republicans- but is Hillary Clinton and the Democratic Party.” Lets ask ourselves how that is going to unite the country and ‘Make America Great Again’?

With three more days to go for the RNC, it’s sure to continue to be eventful with Donald Trump, Mike Pence, and many more still left to speak!

Melania Trump, wife of Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump waves as she speaks during the opening day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Monday, July 18, 2016. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Donald Trump has likely chosen Republican Mike Pence as his Vice President running mate. Here’s what you need to know about Mike Pence.

Quick Facts:

Michael Richard “Mike” Pence, born June 7, 1959

Family: wife Karen Pence, one son, two daughters

Religion: Evangelicalism

Attorney who graduated from Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law in 1986

Served in the United States House of Representatives from 2001- 2013

Governor of Indiana since 2013

Ran against John Boehner in 2006 for the minority leader of the U.S. House of Representatives, lost by a large margin

In 2008, he was listed as one of the top ten legislators by Esquire Magazine

Has been listed as a potential running mate for both the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections

Part of the Tea Party Movement

S. House committee assignments have included: Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on Middle East and South Africa, Judiciary, Subcommittee on the Constitution, Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Competition, and the Internet. (This experience is likely to help Trump’s short comings in foreign policy)

Supporter of earmark reform

Secured earmarks for the ‘Transit Acquisition and Intermodal Facility Project,’ construction of a park in Portland, inclusion in a bill for labor-health and human services

Co-sponsor of the 2011 spending limit amendment to the U.S. Constition

In support of increased border security, laws against hiring illegal immigrants and guest worker programs

Supported the Iraq Resolution

Opposes closing Guantanamo Bay detention camp

Has supported Israel on a number of occasions and considers them to be “America’s most cherished ally”

Is in opposition of LGBT rights, including same-sex marriage, civil unions, Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act, and aid money intended to go towards preventing the spread of the HIV virus

Is strongly against reproductive rights for women

May keep Trump in check! Pence has been vocal at saying Trump’s Muslim ban is a terrible idea